Tuesday, October 9, 2012

“Who I Am,” the new memoir from The Who’s Pete Townshend, is now available.

Long acknowledged as one of rock’s most intelligent and literary performers, Townshend has, at long last, told his dramatic story in a full and frank autobiography, as well as the inside story of the iconic band from its British art-school roots, to its groundbreaking rock opera “Tommy,” to five decades of guitar-smashing tours.

Townshend is currently making the rounds doing media interviews in North America and, on Monday, he stopped by The Today Show for a session with host Savannah Guthrie.

“I decided to write it when I was 20,” laughed Townshend. “It’s taken me a long time. It just felt [like] the time was right. I’m 67; if I wait any longer, I could be dead.”

Asked if he answered the question posed b the book’s title, “Who I Am,” Townshend said, “I think I do and I think I have. I’m happy today and I never expected that. I was rather a miserable young man.”

The Who recently closed the 2012 London Olympics and will begin a North American tour November 1 in Sunrise, FL.

The trip, which marks the band’s first dates on the continent in four years, will see the group perform their iconic 1973 double album “Quadrophenia” in its entirety, along with a selection of Who classics.